Ceramic tiled floor and its laying method

ABSTRACT

The ceramic tiled floor includes tiles provided along at least one edge with grooves, and tongued strips, complementary to the grooves adapted to connect adjacent tiles, so as to give the entire floor stability and planarity.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a U.S. national phase application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2012/064075, filed on Jul. 18, 2012, which claims priority to Italian Patent Application No. RN2011A000067, filed on Sep. 19, 2011. The International Application was published on Mar. 28, 2013, as International Publication No. WO 2013/041264 under PCT Article 21(2). The entire contents of the above Applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a ceramic tiled floor, conveniently connectable also dry.

BACKGROUND

In the field of constructions or renovations of buildings intended for civil, industrial and commercial use, there is a strongly perceived need for materials that allow the creation of completely smooth floors, i.e. without the classic “gaps” that normally characterise flooring; in actual fact, the gaps between the various tiles composing the flooring, are necessary as they constitute an effective means for compensating and attenuating unavoidable small imperfections on the tile edges, as well as slight imprecisions due to the manual assembly of the floor.

According to the known art, different materials are used that lend themselves to the creation of floors almost completely free from gaps, for which the difficult and delicate grouting stage of the interstices between the tiles, after they have been bonded using the relevant adhesives to the laying surface, is not necessary.

The materials used for the creation of smooth floors are mainly represented, in the known art, by parquet systems, both in the traditional form using natural strips of wood or its specific by-products, or the modern version using industrially produced synthetic material laths, which now faithfully reproduce the typical patterns of wood grains; these laths are also characterised by the presence of tongue and groove edges, which allow stable and definitive connection of the various elements to each other, also dry. The adhesion of this type of floor to the laying surface can be obtained through a layer of adhesive, or the floor can be “floating”, i.e. simply resting on a relevant support sheath.

Also in the field of ceramic floors, tiles have recently been adopted that can increasingly take on sizes, shapes and colours typical of parquet laths; such tiles have met with remarkable success, being able to ensure, as well as the traditional strength and inalterability qualities over time typical of ceramic products, also a more innovative and attractive aesthetic appearance. However, a problem that has arisen in the use of such ceramic tiles laths, assembled alongside each other without grouted gaps, has been that it is fairly difficult to obtain good evenness and coplanar requirements on the finished floors.

A significant improvement to such type of disadvantage has been obtained with the implementation of a mechanical grinding process on the edge of the tiles, so as to make them perfectly even and to facilitate their laying alongside each other during assembly; however, the problem remains of a coplanar finished floor, due to the substantial size of the tiles, which can reach considerable lengths.

Alternatively, the only possibility of dry-assembled ceramic floors envisages the connection of the tiles to supports made of more easily workable materials, such as plastic, on which male-female shape coupling solutions are obtainable.

The aim of this invention is therefore to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantage.

SUMMARY

This invention, characterised by the claims, reaches the aim through the use of ceramic tiles equipped with suitable grooved edges to house tongued strips, which can ensure, during laying, a coplanar surface and the arrangement alongside each other of adjacent tiles. The main advantage obtained through the present invention consists of the fact that the finished floor has excellent stability and coplanar qualities.

Furthermore, the complete arrangement alongside each other of the edges of adjacent tiles can make the floor free from gaps, therefore there is no need to perform grouting. Hence, its creation is quick and easy, and does not even require particularly specialist labour.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages and characteristics of the present invention will more fully emerge from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which represent a non-limiting embodiment, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the invention according to a plan view, with some parts removed to better highlight others;

FIG. 2 illustrates the invention according to a sectional view, with some parts removed to better highlight others;

FIG. 3 shows some disassembled tiles according to a second preferred embodiment connectable through a strip according to a second preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows a section of the tiles of FIG. 3 assembled through the strip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As can be observed from the figures, the present invention concerns a tiled ceramic floor.

Such a floor comprises tiles (1) provided along at least one edge (1 a) with a groove (2), and tongued strips (3), complementary to the grooves (2) adapted to connect adjacent tiles (I), so as to give the entire floor (10) stability and planarity.

The tiles (1) are preferably made of porcelain stoneware, such material having the necessary mechanical resistance to create the grooves (2) and for connection through the tongued strips (3). The latter can be provided with surface roughness (3 a), so as to increase the friction against the walls of the grooves (2) that house them.

In a preferred embodiment, the tiles (1) comprise grooves (2) on at least two opposite edges (1 a), so as to facilitate the assembly of a series of tiles (1).

The laying of the floor first envisages the arrangement of a row of tiles (1) on the laying surface (10 a), the insertion of the strips (3) in the grooves (2) of a series of tiles (1) already positioned on the laying surface; more tiles (1) are subsequently arranged on the laying surface (10 a), adjacent to the previous ones already equipped with the strips (3); then the new tiles (1) are moved alongside the tiles (1) already equipped with the strip (3), and then the reciprocal connection of the tiles (1) is performed so as to provide for the presence of gaps or not.

Reference is now made to the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

In this case the grooves 2 are arranged at a greater distance from the upper surface of the tiles 1 than the distance from the base of the tiles 1.

This provides for a greater thickness for the part of the tiles 1 including the upper surface of the tiles 1, which is potentially subject to greater mechanical strain, such as for example in the event of impact of a body falling onto the floor.

The arrangement of the grooves 2 is in particular, with respect to the upper surface of the tiles 1, approximately ⅔ of the thickness of the tiles 1.

Furthermore, the depth of the grooves 2 of the tiles 1 is more than twice their height.

In a possible embodiment the tiles 1 have grooves 2 along all their edges 1 a.

The tiles 1 can have any conformation but are preferably quadrangular and in particular rectangular, and envisage at least two grooves 2, with constant height and depth that extend in a straight line on at least two opposite longitudinal edges 1 a of the tiles 1.

The depth of the grooves 2 is advantageously no less than half the width of the strips 3. This enables the edges 1 a of the tiles 1 placed alongside to be rested against each other, hence preventing the formation between them of gaps that are not necessary since the floor made of tiles 1, due to being able to be laid floating onto the laying surface 10 a, prevents the onset of strain between one tile and another tile.

This option to avoid gaps represents an unmistakable advantage with respect to traditional floors bonded onto the laying surface that require gaps so as to prevent any movement of the laying surface onto which the tiles are bonded causing the onset of strain between one tile and another tile with the resulting risk of their chipping or breaking

Still with reference to the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, the surface roughness of the strips 3 is conformed to fins 20 and arranged on the two opposite end zones of the main body of the strips 3.

The fins 20 are configured in such a way that they have facilitated bending towards the central zone 21 of the main body of the strips 3 for facilitated introduction into the grooves 2. In particular the fins 20 are conformed to make the insertion of the strip 3 into the grooves 2 easier and its extraction from the grooves 2 more difficult.

The fins 20 are preferably made of a different material and in particular softer than the main body of the strips 3.

The central zone 21 of the main body of the strips 3 also has a thickening to better withstand shearing and bending stress and to limit the possible reciprocal vertical movement (perpendicular to the lying plane of the tiles).

The creation of the main body of the strips 3 in rigid material allows easy insertion in the grooves 2 further facilitated by the rounding off of the ends of the main body of the strips 3. The thickness of the main body of the strips 3 can, for example, be approximately half the height of the grooves 2.

The height of the fins 20 is, on the other hand, advantageously greater than the height of the grooves 2 so that they can exert the correct pressure against the grooves 2.

The thus proportioned strips 3 can be easily inserted into the grooves 2 and locked by effect of the high friction due to the fins 20 which guarantee effective and stable coupling between the tiles 1 on the laying surface 10 a.

The strips 3 can have a shorter length than the length of the edge 1 a of the tiles 2 where the grooves 2 are located.

What is important to ensure the laid tiles 1 are coplanar is that the strips 3 are positioned at least at the corners of the tiles 1.

This provides enormous flexibility of use of the tiles since it is possible to lay them with any degree of staggering, and in particular the tiles can also be staggered by an amount of 50% of their length.

In the known art the coplanar laying of staggered tiles is very difficult to perform since tiles, and especially longer ones, during firing in some cases tend to become slightly curved and do not make it possible to fit together the central zone and the end zone of two tiles alongside each other, in the floor.

On this point, the tiles 1 are advantageously subjected, during manufacturing, to suitable pressure to make them perfectly planar so that the grooves 2 are always parallel to their upper surface.

This advantageous characteristic is particularly obtained with a machine that has pressing means during the milling of the grooves 2 of the tiles 1 to keep the latter perfectly planar and to obtain, once the strips 3 are inserted in the grooves 2 for creating the floor, perfect planarity of the floor without any steps between one tile and another tile.

The floor according to the invention is suitable for cheap, clean and quick laying.

For laying, no adhesive or grout is required since the floor is floating on the laying surface 10 a.

The floor can consequently be immediately walked on.

The material of which the tiles is made, for example porcelain stoneware, is damp-proof and water-proof and can be installed in damp environments, for example basements and bathrooms.

To make walking on the floor quiet and to absorb any slight unevenness on the laying surface 10 a of the floor it is possible to provide a sound-absorbing underlay to be laid on the laying surface 10 a before the floor.

The floor offers the advantage of simplifying laying to the extent that it is also possible for unqualified operators.

The floor can also be disassembled after laying in order to be reassembled subsequently in another context.

The substantial absence of gaps, which for a traditional bonded ceramic tiled floor is impossible due to the technical reasons explained above becomes, according to the present invention, a possible option for giving a certain aesthetic prestige to the floor.

Naturally for any requirements, the gaps can be sealed with a sealant for example to make the floor waterproof if laid in an environment exposed to water.

In brief, still with reference to the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, the laying of the floor initially envisages laying the flat sound-absorbing underlay, and then arranging rows of tiles on the underlay.

It is also possible to provide for only the adjacent rows of tiles to be joined through the strips 3 or also for the tiles of a same row of tiles to be joined through the strips 3, if they have grooves along all their edges.

The tiles of a subsequent row are positioned staggered as preferred with respect to the tiles of the previous row just as long as strips 3 are provided at least at the corners of the tiles and, especially if the tiles are fairly long, also at the central zone of the sides of the tiles. The strips 3 are inserted half way along onto the tiles 1 already in position on the underlay.

The subsequent tiles 1 to be joined to the previous tiles already in position are moved alongside and joined to the latter using a rubber hammer with which the other half of the strips 3 of the tiles already in position is engaged in the grooves 2 of the tiles to be joined.

In the event of a tile 1 breaking, the damaged tile is broken into small pieces which are removed, then the strips 3 joining the tiles 1 around it are cut flush without removing the underlying part of the underlay, a trickle of silicone is put along the edge of the tiles that form the boundary of the space left by the broken tile, and a new tile is inserted. Even after the replacement of the broken tile the floor remains floating.

It must be pointed out that the tiles 1 only require one milling operation on their perimetral edges for the creation of the grooves 2, and no other processing of their perimetral edges is required. In fact, each perimetral edge of the tiles 1 extends for the entire thickness of the tiles on a single corresponding plane perpendicular to the main lying place of the tiles, and the groove 2 on the edge extends perpendicular to the lying plane of the edge itself.

The floor as conceived herein is susceptible to many modifications and variations, all falling within the scope of the invented concept; furthermore, all the details are replaceable by technically equivalent elements.

The materials used, as well as the dimensions, may in practice be of any type according to requirements and the state of the art. 

1. A ceramic tiled floor, comprising: tiles provided along at least one edge with grooves; and tongued strips, complementary to the grooves adapted to connect adjacent tiles, so as to give the entire floor stability and planarity, wherein said tiles are placed on a sound-absorbing underlay and suitable to absorb any unevenness on the laying surface of the floor, and the perimetral edges of the tiles extend for the entire thickness of the tiles each on a corresponding single plane perpendicular to the main lying plane of the tiles, and the grooves extend perpendicular to the lying plane of the edges.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The floor according to claim 1, wherein said tiles comprise grooves on at least two opposite edges, so as to facilitate the assembly of a series of tiles.
 4. The floor according to claim 1, wherein the strips comprise surface roughness, adapted to increase the friction against the grooves.
 5. The floor according to claim 1, wherein said grooves are arranged at a greater distance from the upper surface of said tiles than the distance from the base of said tiles.
 6. The floor according to claim 1, wherein said grooves have a depth that is no less than half the width of said tongued strips.
 7. The floor according to claim 4, wherein said surface roughness is conformed to fins which extend from the two opposite end zones of the main body of said strips having facilitated bending towards the central zone of the main body of said strips for facilitated insertion in said grooves.
 8. The floor according to claim 4, wherein said fins are made of softer material than the main body of said strips.
 9. The floor according to claim 7, wherein said central zone of the main body of said strips has a thickening to better withstand shearing and bending stress and to limit the possible reciprocal movement of the adjacent tiles in a perpendicular direction to their lying plane (in vertical).
 10. The floor according to claim 7, wherein the height of the fins is greater than the height of the grooves.
 11. The floor according to claim 1, wherein the strips are positioned at least at the corners of the tiles.
 12. (canceled)
 13. A method for creating a ceramic tiled floor connected dry, comprising: a step of creating tiles provided along at least one edge with a groove; a step of inserting strips in the grooves of a tile already positioned on the laying surface; a step of arranging the tile on the laying surface of a floor; a step of arranging adjacent tiles on the laying surface of the floor, alongside the edges of tiles already equipped with the strip; and a step of connecting the new tiles against the tiles already equipped with the strip (3);
 14. The method for creating a ceramic tiled floor connectable dry according to claim 13, wherein the step of creating said tiles provided along at least one edge with a groove is performed by exerting on each of said tiles suitable pressure to make them perfectly planar so that said groove is always parallel at least to the upper surface of said tiles.
 15. The method for creating a ceramic tiled floor connectable dry according to claim 13, wherein the step of connecting the new tiles against the tiles already equipped with the strip consists of putting the strips at least on all the corners of all the tiles.
 16. The floor according to claim 5, wherein said surface roughness is conformed to fins which extend from the two opposite end zones of the main body of said strips having facilitated bending towards the central zone of the main body of said strips for facilitated insertion in said grooves.
 17. The floor according to claim 6, wherein said surface roughness is conformed to fins which extend from the two opposite end zones of the main body of said strips having facilitated bending towards the central zone of the main body of said strips for facilitated insertion in said grooves.
 18. The floor according to claim 5, wherein said fins are made of softer material than the main body of said strips.
 19. The floor according to claim 6, wherein said fins are made of softer material than the main body of said strips.
 20. The floor according to claim 7, wherein said fins are made of softer material than the main body of said strips.
 21. The floor according to claim 8, wherein said central zone of the main body of said strips has a thickening to better withstand shearing and bending stress and to limit the possible reciprocal movement of the adjacent tiles in a perpendicular direction to their lying plane (in vertical).
 22. The floor according to claim 8, wherein the height of the fins is greater than the height of the grooves. 